17alpha-carboxyalkyl-17beta-hydroxyandros-tan-3-one lactones and nor compounds corresponding



United States Patent John A. Celia, Skokie, Ill., assignor to G. D. Searle & CO., Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Filed Feb. 9, 1959, Ser. No. 791,839

7 Claims. (Cl. 260-43957) This invention relates to l7a-carboxy(ethyl and pro- 1 5 pyl)-l7,6-hydroxyandrostan-3-one lactones, nor compounds corresponding, and processes for the manufacture thereof. More particularly, this invention relates to products of the formula i o=o o p: 1 R

wherein R represents either hydrogen or a methyl radical and n is a positive integer amounting to less than 3.

Equivalent to the foregoing lactones for purposes of the present invention are the corresponding hydroxy acids and their alkali salts, of the formula (grins-01120002 2 R wherein R and n are defined as before and Z is hydrogen, an alkali metal, or the ammonium radical.

The application for Letters Patent securing the invention herein described and claimed is a continuation-inpart of applicants prior copending application, Serial No. 704,252, filed December 23, 1957, and now abandoned.

Lactones, hydroxy acids, and salts hereinabove described are useful because of their valuable pharmacological properties. Especially, the subject compositions are potent antihormonal agents. For example, they inhibit the efiect of mineralocorticoids on urinary sodium and potassium, counteract cortisone-induced susceptibility to infection, and prevent the response of the male sex organs to androgens such as testosterone. Still further, the described products are barbiturate potentiators.

Manufacture of the compositions hereinafter claimed proceeds by hydrogenation of the corresponding A compound in the presence of a noble metal catalyst such as palladium-preferably, distributed and supported on charcoal, calcium carbonate, or the equivalent. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the lactones hereof, on contact with aqueous alkali, are converted to salts of the corresponding hydroxy acids, from which the free acids can be obtained by a critically brief exposure to a proton source. Prolongation of the exposure time induces lactonization.

The following examples describe in detail certain of the compounds illustrative of the present invention, and methods which have been devised for their manufacture. However, the invention is not to be construed as limited thereby, either in spirit or in scope, since it will be apparent to those skilled in the art of organic synthesis that many modifications, both of materials and of methods, may be practiced without departing from the purpose and intent of this disclosure. In the examples hereinafter detailed, temperatures are given in degrees centigrade C.) and relative amounts of material in parts b weight, except as otherwise noted.

Example 1 17u-(2-carboxyelhyl) 175 hydr0xy-5a-andr0stan-3- one lactone and 17m-(2-carb0xyethyl)-17p-hydr0xy-5;8- androstan-S-one lact0ne.A solution of 5 parts of 17a- (2-carboxyethyl)-17p-hydroxyandrost-4-en-3-One lactone (obtained from 17oz-fithYIlYl-5-8I1dIOStCI1-3B,1713-diO1 via Grignard carboxylation, saturation of the ethynyl linkage with hydrogen catalyzed by palladium, and Oppenauer oxidation of the 3-hydroxyl, as detailed in United States Patent No. 2,705,712) in parts of ethyl acetate is subjected to the action of hydrogen at atmospheric pressures and room temperatures in the presence of 1 part of 5% palladium/charcoal catalyst. When one equivalent of hydrogen is absorbed, hydrogen uptake ceases. The catalyst is removed by filtration and the filtrate evaporated to dryness at substantially room temperature under nitrogen. The residue is chromatographed on silica gel, using benzene and ethyl acetate as developing solvents. From an eluate comprising 10% ethyl acetate, there is obtained pure 17a-(2-carboxyethyl)-l7B-hydroxy- 5u-androstan-3-one lactone, which melts at 177-179 C. This product has the formula Example 2 17u-(2-carb0xyethyl) -J7B-hydr0xy 19 nor-Sa-androstun 3 one lactone and 17u-(2-carb0xyethyl) -17,8-hydroxy 19 nor-5,8-andr0stan-3-0ne lactone.-'Using the technique of the foregoing Example 1, but substituting l7a-(2-carboxyethyl)-17/8-hydroxy l9 norandrost-4-en- 3 one lactone (obtained from 17a ethynylestradiol 3-methyl ether via Grignard carboxylation, reduction with lithium in a mixture of liquid ammonia and t-butyl alcohol, and treatment with mineral acid, as detailed in the application for United States patent Serial No. 680,659, filed August 28, 1957, and now forfeited) for the 17OL-(2- carboxyethyl) 176 hydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one lactone called for therein, there is obtained 17oc-( 2-carboxyethyl)- l7B-hydroxy-l9-nor-5a-androstan-3-one lactone, melting at 19820l C., and 17a-(2-carboxyethyl)-l7,B-hydroxyl9 nor-5fi-androstan-3-one lactone, melting at 218-222 C. The 5a isomer has the formula HsC\ Example 3 A. 1704 (3 carboxypropargyl)androst-5-ene-35J7fidiol.A solution of 9 parts of 17apropargy1androst-5- ene-3fl,17fi-diol in 90 parts of purified tetrahydrofuran is added, with agitation during a 5-minute period, to a. solution of 35 parts of methylmagnesiurn bromide in 180 parts of purified te'trahydrofuran. The resultant mixture is heated to the boiling point under reflux and maintained thereat with continued agitation for 24 hours, at which point the mixture is vigorously agitated in a carbon dioxide atmosphere for an additional 24 hours. The mixture is then hydrolyzed with ice-cold aqueous.3% sulfuric acid, following which it is extracted with ether. Solvent is removed from the ether extract by evaporatiomand the residue is suspended in 90 parts of boiling chloroform for 5 minutes. The materialwhich remains undissolved is 17oz(3-carboxypropargyl)androst 5 ene-3,8,17B-diol. The product, recovered by filtration, melts at'203-206 (with decomposition) and has the formula 7 0112050 C O OH CH 'off and solvent removed from the filtrate by distillation.

The thick yellow oil which remains is taken up in 50 parts of ethanol; and this solution is mixed for 3 minutes at room temperatures with 10 parts of concentrated hydrochloric acid, which mixture is then poured into 1000 parts of water. The material which precipitates is the desired 17oz (3 carboxyallyl)androst-5-ene-3,B,17,B-diol lactone, which is collected on a filter, washed thereon with water,

' and dried air. The product has the formula 0 CH3 H30\/ 'Iactona-To a solution of approximately 6 parts of 17a- V duction of the 4,5-double bond is complete.

4 (3-carboxyallyl)androst-5-ene-3e,17fl-diol lactone in parts of absolute ethanol is added 1 part of concentrated hydrochloric acid. The resultant material is maintained with agitation under hydrogen at atmospheric pressures in the presence of 1 part of 5% palladium/charcoal catalyst until hydrogen upstake'indicates saturation of the vinyl linkage inthe lactone ring. Catalyst is then removed by filtration, and the filtrate is reduced to a small volume by vacuum distillation. Upon dilution with water, a viscous yellow oil is precipitated. Extraction of the oil into chloroform and distillation of solvent from the chloroform extract affords the desired 1 7e-(3-carboxypropyl) androst-5-ene-3BJ7B-diol lactone as a colorless glass. The product has the formula D. 17a (3 carboxypi'opy l) 173 hydroxyandrost- 4-en-3-0ne lact0ne.-A solution of 3 parts of aluminum isopropoxide in 35 parts of dry toluene is rapidly added, with agitation, to a boilingsolution of 3 parts of l7a-(3- carboxypropyl)androst5-ene-3B,l7[3-diol lactone and 15 parts of cyclohexanone in 99 parts of dry toluene under reflux. Agitation at the boiling point under reflux is maintained for 15 minutes, whereupon the mixture is cooled, diluted with water, and-then, steam distilled until the distillate is essentially clear. The distillation residue is cooled, acidified to pH 2 with hydrochloric acid, and thereupon extracted with ether. Evaporation of solvent from the ether extract affords as the residuea pale yellow gum which is purified by chromatography on silica gel, using benzene and ethyl acetate as developing solvents.

From an eluate comprising 15% ethyl acetate, upon evaporation of solvent and recrystallization of the residue from a mixture of ethyl acetate and isopropyl ether, there is obtained the desired 17a-(3-carboxypropyl)-l7fihydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one lactone, melting at 192-193". The product has the formula 0 ou H.0

17a (3 carboxypropyl) 17 8 hydroxy 50c androstan-3-0ne lactone and l7u-(3-cqrboxypropyl)4'75- hydroxy-5B-qndrostan-3-one lact0ne.A solution of 15 parts of 17a-(3-carboxypropyl)-17fl-hydroxyandrost-4- en-3-one lactone in parts of absolute ethanol is maintaiued, with agitation, under hydrogen at atmospheric pressures in the presence of 3 parts of 5% p alladium/ charcoal catalyst untilhydrogenuptake indicates that re- Catalyst is then removed by filtration, and the filtrate is stripped of solvent by distillation. The 'clear colorless glass obtained'as a residue is chromatographed on silica gel, using benzene and ethyl acetateas developing solvent. From an early eluate comprising 10% ethyl acetate, on evaporation of solvent and, recrystallization of the resiclu fmm a mixture of ethyl acetate and isopropyl ether,

fine white needles of 17oc-(3-C3I'bOXYP1'OPY1)-17Bhyd1'OXy- Son-androstan-S-one lactone, melting at 191-193, are obtained. The product has the formula CH; H;C

From a subsequent 10% ethyl acetate eluate, on evaporation of solvent and recrystallization of the residue from a mixture of ethyl acetate and isopropyl ether, small dense cubes of l7u-(3-earboxypropyl)-17Bhydroxy-5B- androstan-3-one lactone, melting at 196-197", are obtained. This product has the formula on, H

H Mixed melting point determinations confirm the dissimilarity of the products of Examples 3D and BE.

6 What is claimed is: 1. A compound of the formula CH3 H2 (9H7) n "'C I I l 5. 17a (2 carboxyethyl) 17,3 hydroxy 19 nor- SB-androstan-3-one lactone.

6. 17a (3 carboxypropyl) 17 3 hydroxy 5oz androstan-B-one lactone.

7. 17a (3 carboxypropyl) 17B hydroxy 5,8 androstan-3-one lactone.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Ruzicka Nov. 7, 1944 Cella Apr. 5, 1955 

1. A COMPOUND OF THE FORMULA 